Aeroplane



May 1, 1928.

H. MATHAT AEROPLANE Filed Apjiil s. 19,27 2 sheets-sheet "i IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY 244. AERONAUTlC-S HENRY MATHAT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AEROPLAINE.

Application filed April 25, 1927. Serial No. 186,536.

This invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes and has particular reference to an aeroplane of small size and one which may be folded so as to be accommodated within a small building in counter distinction to the large type of hangars now nec essary to house the standard aeroplane.

A further object is to produce an aeroplane the ease of operation of which is a salient feature.

A still further object is to produce an aeroplane which will be economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved aeroplane showing the wing surface partly removed,

Figure 2 is a detail view on a reduced scale, showing the manner in which the wing frames may be folded,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale showing the manner of supporting the trailing abutting edges of the wing frames,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of Figure 1 an Figure 5 is a side elevation of my aeroplane on a reduced scale.

At the present time there has been considerable activity in producing small aeroplanes of light construction using small motors. These small aeroplanes have met with considerable success and it is this type of aeroplane to which my invention relates.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6 refer to parallel tubular members which form the main chassis of my aeroplane. The tubular members are connected together in any convenient manner as for instance, by the tubular connectors 7, 8 and 9. A rear supporting plane is shown at 11 and is connected to the tubular members 5 and 6. Secured to the front end of these tubular members 5 and 6 are trunnions 12 and 13 respectively, through which a shaft 14 projects. Coiled upon the opposite ends of this shaft 14 are springs 16 and 17. The spring 16 being wound in one direction and the spring 17 in the opposite direction, these springs each have one end connected to the shaft 14 and their opposite ends to the trunnions 12 and 13, the result being that the shaft 14 is held in a balanced condition and is only capable of moving a partial revolution when pressure is brought to bear as will be later described.

A fork 18 is vertically positioned in the shaft 14 through the medium of a stub 20 and is adapted to rotate therein, the purpose of which will be later seen. A wheel 19 is mounted in the fork 18 in the customary manner of mounting wheels of this nature. Foot rests 21 and 22 project in the sides of the fork 18 and serve to accommodate the feet of the aviator who sits in a seat 23 carried upon the tubular cross piece 9. An engine frame 24 is secured to the stub 20 and has mounted thereon a motor 26 to which a propeller 27 is secured. The frame 24 is provided with handle bars 28 having grips 29 conveniently positioned with respect to the aviator.

Vertically secured to the trunnions 12 and 13 are stubs 31 and 32 respectively, upon which is secured uprights 33 and 34 respectively. These uprights are connected by a cross bar 36 which is further braced as shown at 37 and 38. The main wing supporting surface consists of two substantially U-shaped frames 39 and 41 which are preferably of tubular construction, each of which is provided with cross braces 42 and 43. These frames are covered with suitable material which forms a supporting surface. This material is designated by the numeral 43. In order to secure these wing frames, I provide arms 46 and 47 which arms are secured to the cross piece 42 and 43 of each wing frame. These arms 46 and 47 are bent downwardly so as to enter the tubular members 33 and 34 respectively as shown at 48 and 49. Suitable means is provided to hold these downward extending ends within the tubular members 33 and 34.

In order to brace the extremities of the Wings, I employ cables 51 and 52 (see Figure 4). When the wing frames are in the position shown in Figure 1 the trailing edges are clamped together by a clamp 53 the lower portion of which clamp has a downward extending tubular member 54 which is secured to the tubular cross piece 8 (see Figures 1 and 3). A rear supportin wheel is shown at 56 which is carried by braces 57 and 58,

which braces are in turn secured to tubular members 5 and 6. With this construction, it will be seen that I have produced a very simple aeroplane which functions as follows The motor being mounted upon the frame 24 carries the propeller 27 directly in front of the aviator and as this frame 24 can be rotated upon the stub 20 of the fork 18, the result would be that when the aeroplane is in flight if the aviator moves the handle bars 28 to the right or left, the propeller 27 will be moved so as to produce a tractor force in the direction which the aviator wishes to proceed. As the stub 20 which carries the frame 24; is mounted in the shaft 14 which is in the trunnions 12 and 13. It will be evident that by bearing down or up, the propeller will be caused to give a downward pull or upward pull as the case may be. The springs 16 and 17 serve to normally maintain the plane in a horizontal flight therefore but little strain is placed upon the aviator. In order to cause the plane to go up or down, it is merely necessary for the aviator to manipulate the handle bars against the tension of these springs which requires but a small amount of effort. When the plane is not in use, the ends of the wing frames are removed from the clamp 53 and the downward extending hands 48 and 19 are loosened with respect to the uprights 33 and 34, after which the wing sections may be swung so as to overlap each other as shown in Figure 2 thereby producing an aeroplane which may be housed in a relatively small structure.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that Various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In an aeroplane, a pair of wing frames adapted to be held in alignment with each other, a pair of substantially parallel tubular members positioned beneath said wing frames, uprights extending between said parallel members and said wing frames, trunnion bearings carried at the lower extremity of said uprights, a shaft extending between said trunnion bearings, an oppositely coiled spring positioned upon the opposite ends of said shaft and secured to said shaft and said trunnions, a fork positioned beneath said shaft, a wheel positioned within said fork, an upright stub secured to said fork and extending through said shaft, a motor frame secured to said stub and handle bars secured to said frame in a manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY MATHAT. 

